Spreader Apparatus, For Use With Dispensers

• US 20090084819A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mack-Ray Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mack-Ray Incorporated
• Inventors: Liberatore, Raymond A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,645,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/568
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00506 Means for connecting the outlet element to, or for disconnecting it from, the hand tool or its container
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00516 Shape or geometry of the outlet orifice or the outlet element
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00583 the container for the material to be dispensed being deformable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/42 Integral or attached nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/06 with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages with slidable spouts B65D47/26
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/42 with pads or like contents-applying means contents-applying means associated to aerosol container nozzles B65D83/285; brushes combined or associated with containers A46B11/00; swabs for applying media to the human body from an integral supply A61F13/40
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5872 Non-integral spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0005 Containers or packages provided with a piston or with a movable bottom or partition having approximately the same section as the container B65D83/0072 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0011 moved by a screw-shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/005 the piston or movable bottom being pulled upwards to dispense the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0072 the contents of a flexible bag being expelled by a piston or a movable bottom or partition provided in the container or the package

Abstract

An apparatus for use with an edible food dispenser has a nozzle, a spreader surface associated with the nozzle, and a cap for entirely covering the nozzle.

Claims

1. A nozzle for attachment to a dispenser for dispensing material, the nozzle comprising:

a) a fitting at a first end to facilitate attachment to the dispenser;

b) an opening at a second end opposite the first end through which material is dispensed, a center of the opening being located along a central axis of the nozzle, the fitting being wider than the opening, the opening defining a periphery having a lateral width dimension and a height dimension, the opening further comprising arcuate and concave surfaces at widthwise opposite ends that remain of fixed dimension to define an oval periphery, the lateral width dimension substantially exceeding twice the height dimension of the opening; and

c) a forwardly-projecting side wall extending from the first end to the opening, the side wall having a peripheral outer surface defined by a concave surface that transitions into an outwardly rounded convex surface that terminates at the opening;

d) wherein the side wall further comprises an upper wall and a lower wall, each of the upper and lower walls comprising a portion of the peripheral outer surface such that each of the upper and lower walls comprises a concave surface that transitions into an outwardly rounded convex surface terminating at the opening,

e) whereby a substantially constant layer of material is dispensed through the opening and having a width of the opening.

2. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outwardly rounded convex surface of the peripheral outer surface further comprises a maximum convexity defined by a furthest distance from the central axis of the nozzle, and wherein the concave surface of the peripheral outer surface further comprises a maximum concavity defined by a shortest distance from the central axis of the nozzle, and wherein the maximum concavity of the concave surface is closer than the maximum convexity of the outwardly rounded convex surface.

3. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the convex and concave surfaces of the peripheral outer surface further comprises a point of inflection, and wherein the point of inflection of the concave surface is closer to the central axis than the point of inflection of the convex surface.

4. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the concave surface is closer to the central axis than the fitting.

5. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the concave surface of the upper and lower walls defines an inwardly pinched forwardly projecting sidewall.

6. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fitting defines the widest portion of the nozzle, and the concave surface along the forwardly projecting sidewall defines the narrowest portion of the nozzle prior to the opening.

7. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a cap for covering the nozzle during periods of non-use, a portion of the cap extending around the opening.

8. A nozzle in accordance with claim 7, a portion of the cap extending into the opening for plugging the opening.

9. A nozzle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a compressible dispenser attached to the nozzle.

10. A dispensable product comprising a dispenser for holding material to be dispensed and a nozzle for attachment to the dispenser and through which material is dispensed, the nozzle further comprising:

a) a fitting at a first end to facilitate attachment to the dispenser;

b) an opening at a second end opposite the first end through which material is dispensed, a center of the opening being located along a central axis of the nozzle, the fitting being wider than the opening, the opening defining a periphery having a lateral width dimension and a height dimension, the opening further comprising arcuate and concave surfaces at widthwise opposite ends that remain of fixed dimension to define an oval periphery, the lateral width dimension substantially exceeding twice the height dimension of the opening; and

c) a forwardly-projecting side wall extending from the first end to the opening, the side wall having a peripheral outer surface defined by a concave surface that transitions into an outwardly rounded convex surface that terminates at the opening;

d) wherein the side wall further comprises an upper wall and a lower wall, each of the upper and lower walls comprising a portion of the peripheral outer surface such that each of the upper and lower walls comprises a concave surface that transitions into an outwardly rounded convex surface terminating at the opening,

e) whereby a substantially constant layer of material is dispensed through the opening and having a width of the opening.

11. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 10, wherein the outwardly rounded convex surface of the peripheral outer surface further comprises a maximum convexity defined by a furthest distance from the central axis of the nozzle, and wherein the concave surface of the peripheral outer surface further comprises a maximum concavity defined by a shortest distance from the central axis of the nozzle, and wherein the maximum concavity of the concave surface is closer than the maximum convexity of the outwardly rounded convex surface.

12. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of the convex and concave surfaces of the peripheral outer surface further comprises a point of inflection, and wherein the point of inflection of the concave surface is closer to the central axis than the point of inflection of the convex surface.

13. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 10, wherein the concave surface is closer to the central axis than the fitting.

14. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 10, wherein the nozzle is threadingly attached to the dispenser.

15. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 10, wherein the fitting defines the widest portion of the nozzle, and the concave surface along the forwardly projecting sidewall defines the narrowest portion of the nozzle prior to the opening.

16. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a cap for covering the nozzle during periods of non-use, a portion of the cap extending around the opening.

17. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 16, a portion of the cap extending into the opening for plugging the opening.

18. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 10, wherein the material is a spreadable food product.

19. A dispensable product in accordance with claim 18, wherein the material is at least one of peanut butter, butter, frosting, mayonnaise, jam, jelly, or soft cheese.

20. A nozzle for attachment to a dispenser for dispensing material, the nozzle comprising:

a) a fitting at a first end to facilitate attachment to the dispenser;

b) an opening at a second end opposite the first end through which material is dispensed, a center of the opening being located along a central axis of the nozzle, the fitting being wider than the opening, the opening defining a periphery having a lateral width dimension and a height dimension, the opening further comprising arcuate and concave surfaces at widthwise opposite ends that remain of fixed dimension to define an oval periphery, the lateral width dimension substantially exceeding twice the height dimension of the opening; and

c) a forwardly-projecting side wall extending from the first end to the opening, the side wall having a peripheral outer surface defined by a concave surface that transitions into an outwardly rounded convex surface that terminates at the opening, the concave surface being closer to the central axis than the convex surface;

d) wherein the side wall further comprises an upper wall and a lower wall, each of the upper and lower walls comprising a portion of the peripheral outer surface such that each of the upper and lower walls comprises a concave surface that transitions into an outwardly rounded convex surface terminating at the opening, each concave surface being closer to the central axis than each outwardly rounded convex surface; and

e) whereby a substantially constant layer of material is dispensed through the opening and having a width of the opening.